Types of Coastal Lawn Grass

Bermudagrass is a very tolerant but very invasive lawn grass.grass image by ana malin from Fotolia.com

The geographic area you live in plays a huge role in determining which types of grasses will thrive and which will leave you replanting your lawn. High winds and salt, along with dry, sandy soil can make it difficult to plant a lawn in coastal areas. However, several types of coastal lawn grass grow well in these conditions, giving you a beautiful, lush lawn no matter where you live.

Bermudagrass

Growing bermudagrass (Cynodon Spp.) has many advantages, especially in coastal areas. With a high tolerance to drought, it can thrive in any soil type, especially dry, sandy soils. You can plant it from seed and it grows fast, which also prevents weed growth. It works well in high traffic areas of your lawn. No diseases affect bermudagrass, and only one pest, Pearl scale, can damage the grass.

On the other hand, the big disadvantage of this grass comes from its aggressive growth qualities. Through the help of runners, bermudagrass can quickly invade non-grassy areas and flowerbeds.

A native to tropical areas, St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) grows particularly well in warm coastal areas, especially around the Gulf of Mexico and up to mid California. St. Augustine grass can survive on the natural amounts of rainfall on the coast with very little need for extra watering. While better recommended for areas that experience low traffic, it can handle moderate amounts of footfall. The special advantages of this grass lie in its tolerance to shade and love of hot climates.

One downside to planting St. Augustine grass is its limited seed availability. Most often a lawn gets planted through installing sod or by tiller shoots. In addition, it is not as drought resistant as other types of coastal grasses.

A highly tolerant grass, seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum) grows indigenously in tropical and coastal regions all over the world. Similar to bermudagrass, seashore paspalum spreads by rhizomes and stolons. It grows well waterlogged, in low light areas, and in soil with a salt level so high it would kill most other plants. Its dark green, waxy blades make thick turf that does not weaken under high traffic situations.

Seashore paspalum is susceptible to several fungal diseases as well as a variety of pests like crickets, grubs, and worms.

Zoysia grows well across a third of the United States, adapting particularly well to coastal areas due to its high drought and salt tolerance. It also does well in shaded areas of hotter climates and can resist many diseases and pests that afflict other grass types.

Although zoysia can handle high traffic, it grows slowly and so it takes time to recover from any damage it might receive. It also goes dormant in winter.